• Be careful to use English words.

Do you know where the word “sandwich” comes from? It came from the name of an English politician John Sandwich (1718 – 1792). The Earl was very fond of gambling. He invented sandwiches in order to be able to eat without leaving the gambling table. He also gave the name to the Sandwich Islands, which are now called Hawaiian Islands.

A sandwich – man is not a man who sells sandwiches. It is a man who works about the streets carrying advertisements on two boards. One hangs over his chest and the other on his back.

The word “hamburger” comes from the name of German city of Hamburg and not from the word “ham”.

The word “cheeseburger” sometimes used to mean a similar kind of sandwich with cheese instead of meat.

• Why the British say so

Why are unwanted objects called “White Elephants”?

The phrase “white elephants” dates back to the times when India and Thailand were British colonies. A white elephant lives mainly in Thailand. Within the Buddhist religion the white elephant is a sacred animal. When Thailand was called Siam the kings kept the elephants because of their sacred position. The white elephants were kept in absolute splendour. If the kings of Siam wanted to ruin a person, they could do so by giving a gift of a white elephant to that person. In what way could the white elephant ruin person? On the one hand the person who was presented with the elephant couldn’t give the gift away. On the other hand he couldn’t afford the great expense of keeping such a sacred animal in splendour.

In the 11^th century peasants in India used to sell their unwanted household goods from the back of an elephant. The elephants often turned white with fear when they saw crowds of people in the streets. So the phrase “white elephant” was applied to any unwanted item.

Why do people say “touch wood”?

The expression “to touch wood” comes from the practice of touching relics of the body or possessions of holy people in times of personal distress when a person asked for blessing and relief. People said that a large number of those relics were from the cross of Jesus Christ. In fact, touching wood was ancient superstition when in such a way people hoped to avert bad luck. Such trees as oak and willow were considered to be sacred and people believed that they had strong protective powers. Now the actual type of wood has become unimportant and any wood or even one’s head is touched.

This superstition has been changed in meaning through centuries. Today people say “touch wood”, “knock on wood” or “keep your fingers crossed” when they want to avoid misfortunes and hope for good luck and prosperity.

Why do people say “bless you” when someone sneezes?

For many hundreds of years there was a tradition to say “God Bless You” to anyone who sneezed. People believed that the force of a sneeze forced the soul from the body and the heart stopped beating. When anyone heard a sneeze nearby he said “God Bless You”.

Using these words he tried to help the soul of a sneezing person to find its way back. This phrase of saying “Bless You” to a sneezing person originated from Pope Gregory the Great in the 6^th century. He recommended to use these words after an outbreak of plague in Rome and called for prayers as protection against infection.

Does life really begin at forty?

This expression originates from Roman times. It was considered an honour for a family to send their daughter on her tenth birthday into the Temple of Vestal. The girl would remain in the temple for the next 30 years. She lived a simple life of vestal virgin in prayer abstinence and charity work. Even to see a man was forbidden and would result in expulsion. On her fortieth birthday the unfortunate (or fortunate) lady would be released and begin her new life as soon as possible.

There is another explanation of the saying. The French say that we spend twenty years growing, twenty years working and twenty years living. This probably dates back to a time when the life expectancy in France was only 60 years or so. In reality life does not begin at forty, but it makes people live in hope for another forty years.

LONDON

London is the capital of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. It is its political, economic and cultural centre. The population of London is about nine million people.

London is situated on the river Thames. This river divides the town into two parts. There are about twenty bridges across the Thames.

London is a very old city. It is about 20 centuries old. The town grew up around a small Celtic settlement known as Londinium and by 300 A.D. (A.D.= Anno Domini ['ænәu dכminai]) it had turned into a sizable part and an important trading centre with the population of about fifty thousand people.

Today London is one of the largest cities in the world. One in seven of the population of the United Kingdom is a Londoner.

London consists of four parts: the City, the West End, the East End and Westminster. The City is the oldest part of London. It is its financial and business centre. Sometimes the City of London is called “the square mile”, because it occupies an area of a square mile, but there are a lot of banks, offices and companies. The Bank of England is situated there. Very few people live in the City of London. People come to work here. Employees and businessmen stream toward the City in the morning. They travel by motorbuses, on bicycles or by underground. The road to the City runs across London Bridge. By 6 o’clock in the evening this part of the city is almost deserted. The streets in the City are narrow and the traffic is slow.

The West End is the most pleasant residential area of London. There are luxurious mansions, elegant shops and restaurants, theatres, museums and hotels. A lot of lovely parks are situated here too. Oxford Street is one of the busiest thoroughfares in the West End.

The East End is the industrial district of London. There are plants, factories, workshops and docks there. The industrial and dock workers live here. In the East End there are no magnificent parks and mansions and far from all the men here have a steady job.

Westminster is the administrative centre of London. The Houses of Parliament are situated here. It is the seat of the British Government. The building is very beautiful with its two towers and a big clock called Big Ben.

There is a lot of traffic in the streets of London. There are lots of cars, buses, motor cars, lorries and taxis in the city, especially in rush hours. Most of London buses are the famous red double-deckers that have two decks for passengers. Bright-red, they look very nice in the grey streets of London. In Great Britain the traffic keeps to the left. London’s Underground railway or “tube” is the oldest in the world. It is the quickest way of getting around London.

London dominates British life. It is the home of nation’s commerce and finance, the main centre of its legal system and the press. It has the largest university and the greatest possibilities for entertainment and sport in the country.

London is one of the famous capital cities of the world and every year attracts crowds of visitors from home and abroad. They come to explore its historic buildings, to see its museums and galleries, its streets, parks and people.

Task 1. Make up 15 questions to the text.

Task 2. Fill in the blanks with the prepositions.

London is … 20 centuries old. The town grew up … a small Celtic settlement. London is situated … the river Thames. The river divides the town … two parts. The population … London is … nine million people. London consists … four parts. Employees and businessmen travel … the City … motorbuses, … bicycles or … the underground. The road … the City runs … London Bridge. Oxford Street is one … the busiest thoroughfares … the West End. The Houses of Parliament is the seat … the British Government. There is a lot … traffic … the streets of London. … Great Britain the traffic keeps … the left. London is one … the famous capital cities … the world and every year attracts crowds … visitors … home and abroad.

Task 3. Match the words in the columns.

capital situated consists the square mile residential area industrial district administrative centre a big clock the oldest in the world

Big Ben the West End the Thames Westminster the City the Underground four parts the East End London

Task 4. Fill in the blanks with the necessary information.

1. London is about … old.

2. The population of London is … people.

3. London consists of … parts.

4. The City of London is called … .

5. The streets in the City are … and the traffic is … .

6. The West End is … area of London.

7. Oxford street is … in the West End.

8. The East End is … district of London.

9. The Houses of Parliament are situated … .

10. Most of London buses are the famous … that have two decks for passengers.

11. In Great Britain the traffic … .

12. London’s Underground railway is … . It is … of getting around London.

13. London has the largest university and … in the country.

14. Every year London attracts … .

15. They come to explore … .

Task 5. Translate the words in brackets into English.

1. London (расположен) on the river Thames.

2. The river (делит) the town into two parts.

3. The town (вырос) around a small Celtic settlement.

4. London (состоит) of four parts.

5. The City is (старейшая часть) of London.

6. Employees and businessmen (стекаются) towards the City in the morning.

7. The road to the City (проходит) across London Bridge.

8. The industrial and dock workers (живут) in the East End.

9. Westminster is (административный) centre of London.

10. Red double-deckers (выглядят красиво) in the grey streets of London.

Task 6. Is it true or false?

1. London is about twenty years old.

2. The population of London is about 5 million people.

3. London is situated on the river Clyde.

4. The town consists of two parts.

5. The City is the oldest part of London, its financial and business centre.

6. The West End is called “the square mile”.

7. The East End is the most pleasant residential area of London.

8. A double-decker is a yellow taxi.

9. Big Ben is a big tower.

10. London attracts crowds of visitors from home and abroad.

Task 7. Extend the statements.

1. London is a political, economic and cultural centre of Great Britain.

2. London is a very old city.

3. The City is the oldest part of London. It is its financial and business centre.

4. The West End is the most pleasant residential area of London.

5. The East End is the industrial district of London.

6. Westminster is the administrative centre of London.

7. There is a lot of traffic in the streets of London.

8. London dominates British life.

Task 8. Choose the right answer.

1. London is a very old town. It is about …

a) 11 centuries

b) 8 centuries

c) 20 centuries

2. London is situated on the river …

a) Thames

b) Clyde

c) Hudson

3. The population of London is …

a) 4 million

b) 9 million

c) 2 million

4. London consists of …

a) 3 parts

b) 2 parts

c) 4 parts

5. Londoners call “the square mile” …

a) the East End

b) the West End

c) the City

6. The most pleasant residential area is …

a) the East End

b) the City

c) the West End

7. One of the busiest thoroughfares of the West End is …

a) Regent Street

b) Fleet Street

c) Oxford Street

8. The administrative centre of London is …

a) Westminster

b) the City

c) the Houses of Parliament

9. A double-decker is …

a) a red bus

b) a green car

c) a yellow taxi

10. The quickest way of getting around London is …

a) a double-decker

b) a taxi

c) the Underground

Task 9. Speak on the situation.

Your friend is going to visit London. What can you tell him about this city?